The Padmanabhaswamy Temple as Heritage Structure

The national and state agencies hold a limited number of heritage structures in their custody, but do not have initiatives to ensure their long-term safety, even though they are responsible for safeguarding these heritage structures. Limited trained manpower in structural safety and limited infrastructure, particularly of experimental and numerical facilities are possible reasons for not undertaking the necessary research and development in structural safety.

Heritage conservation efforts in the private sector in India largely address only the aesthetic aspect with architects typically steering these projects; safety of the heritage structures is absent in most of these efforts, owing to lack of participation of engineers in such projects and even availability of suitably trained engineers competent to address the special challenges of heritage structures. Since structural safety is not in focus, no quantitative approach is noted in these projects from the standpoint of structural safety.

Conservation of heritage structures is an interdisciplinary engineering effort, with structural safety as one critical determinant, and not just a matter of aesthetics and architecture. Formal systems are absent in India, which recognize the need for use of scientific tools for diagnosis and quantitative assessment of residual capacity before choosing repair or strengthening strategy.

There is lack of convergence between modern-day engineering education and traditional knowledge of construction materials and practices; this is a serious hindrance to preservation of heritage. The current practices of post-disaster interventions in heritage structures can at best be termed as repair, which often are unscientific, ad hoc, and semi- or non-engineered. Retrofit or pre-disaster intervention is desirable, but requires a comprehensive program. Important facets of conservation, like reversibility of the chosen intervention and documentation of the intervention undertaken, are accepted as part of process in Arun Menon 6 international practice; such an approach is yet to be internalized in the national and state agencies undertaking post-disaster interventions.

Treasure Found at Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple treasure is a collection of valuable objects including gold throne, crowns, coins, statues and ornaments, diamonds and other precious stones. It was discovered in some of the subterranean vaults of the Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram the Indian state of Kerala, when five of its six vaults were opened on 27 June 2011. The vaults were opened on the orders of the Supreme Court of India, which was hearing a private petition seeking transparency in the running of the temple. The discovery of the treasure attracted widespread national and international media attention as it is considered to be the largest collection of items of gold and precious stones in the recorded history of the world.

The treasure found has opened up the question of determining the ownership. Press reports suggest that the contents have been valued over a trillion rupees, with two more vaults yet to be opened. This belongs to the temple, and in turn, to whoever is in charge of the temple. The accession agreement signed by the Ruler of the princely state of Travancore provided that the administration of the temple will remain vested in trust in the Ruler of Travancore. These provisions were incorporated in the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950. After the death of the then Ruler, his brother claimed that he had inherited the trusteeship.

However, the Kerala High Court, in January this year, held that the Constitution has abolished the concept of Ruler, and the new “ruler” would be the state government. However, as the state is secular, it ordered the state government to create an authority to administer the temple. It also said that the treasures should be exhibited in a museum for public viewing. From this judgement, it appears that the government will be a “trustee” to the temple, but cannot monetize the treasure. The Supreme Court has constituted a committee to take inventory of the treasure. Either the courts, or a new law by the Kerala Legislative Assembly, will have to provide a final decision on this issue.

Meanwhile, conservation experts have asked for moving of the treasure from Kerala's tropical climate and high humidity to a protected environment. Former Supreme Court justice V. R. Krishna Iyer wants the treasure to be sold and used for social causes. Scholars say it should be housed in a museum near the temple with access to the public and for scholars to study, like Cairo's Egyptian museum. Legal experts feel the Treasure Trove Act of 1878, which says all wealth found underground is state property, does not apply. Hindu organizations are unanimous that the treasure belongs to the temple and should not even be moved from its precincts. They have already opposed suggestions to shift it to the National Museum in Delhi as was done with the Nizam's jewels. Clearly, the wealth of God's own country seems destined to stay within his abode.

Conclusion

Local administrations in India seem to have embarked on a bulldozing spree, especially targeting historic buildings. This happens because there’s little protection given to heritage buildings in India. Even existing laws often aren’t enforced. The national and state agencies hold a limited number of heritage structures in their custody, but do not have initiatives to ensure their long-term safety, even though they are responsible for safeguarding these heritage structures. Limited trained manpower in structural safety and limited infrastructure, particularly of experimental and numerical facilities are possible reasons for not undertaking the necessary research and development in structural safety. Also, there is lack of convergence between modern-day engineering education and traditional knowledge of construction materials and practices; this is a serious hindrance to preservation of heritage.